A Patchwork of Possibilities
Hi readers! Happy National Scrapbooking Day! We’re pleased to have one of our own design team members from our Monday Challenge as a guest designer today. Please help us welcome, Ashli Oliver! She’s sharing with us a very special moment that she scrapbooked, and the way she interpreted her own style into the pages.
Enjoy!
Hi there! Ashli Oliver here to share some of the many possibilities with the gorgeous Simon Says Stamp Exclusives. (Please see a complete supply list below)
One of my favorite go-to designs for a scrapbook page is an “informal grid”… a loose structure in which to dot bits and pieces around the page. A bit of a patchwork, if you will…
This technique is also the perfect way to unify items that otherwise are seemingly too different to pair together.
Take for instance, some of the gorgeous dies and stamps that I have put into use today…a doily, a tree, a vine, a set of title words, roses, hearts, clouds etc…
When combined into a loose and informal grid, they work together to create a lovely and dynamic composition…
…perfect to journal the story of our baby’s name in the pocket behind the photo!
Now, let’s take that idea a step further, shall we? After completing the above layout, I had lots of little die cuts left.
I wanted to make good use of them and also play with some mixed media…
Here’s the step by step:
1. Randomly collage all of the leftover bits onto a sheet of cream card stock, using matte medium to adhere.
2. Once the matte medium is dry, cover the entire surface with a wash of gesso or white paint.
3. When that has mostly dried, add in some watercolors and/or mists in the colors of your choosing. I chose soft blues, pinks, and oranges.
4. Allow to completely dry.
5. Using scissors, or a paper trimmer, cut out random rectangles and squares from your dried sheet of collaged and mixed media fun!
TA DA!
The different shapes, lines, and textures that this creates is unexpected, fascinating, and really can not be achieved any other way!
Plus, when all of those bits are arranged in yet another informal grid, we have instant composition and page design that needs almost no additional embellishing!
And guess what? Once again I found myself with leftover pieces…
I can’t let those go to waste! Layered up and stitched down… we have an instant card!
I hope this has inspired you to grab some of the amazing SSS exclusives and put them to use. As you can see, there is a patchwork full of possibilities!
Thanks for joining me!
SUPPLIES:
Thanks for reading today and thanks to Ashli for providing such gorgeous inspiration!
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Note: Next week we will be announcing LOTS of lucky blog candy winners! Be on the look out! :)
Super sweet layout!
Aww! This is so sweet, lovely baby and beautiful design! Happy National Scrapbooking Day! x
Wonderful examples of using every little bit of what you made! Very fun!
what a gorgeous way to use up little bits of paper!
What a wonderful layout, beautiful color scheme. Thank you for sharing your talent with us.
CU – and have a great scrapbooking day- hellerlittle
That just so soft in color! Its beautiful!
Oh how breathtaking, these projects are just stunning!
What a SWEET BABY! AND a LOVELY FAMILY! :) SUPER JOB! ;)
Gorgeous layout! Love how you used the left overs for a card!!
Beautiful layouts just in time for Mother’s Day!! Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely gorgeous!
very pretty!
oh god! I love that card!
Sweet layout.
Gorgeous layouts….I love them!
Great way to use up odd bits of ephemera and paper that are accumulating from other projects
Love the layout.
Love the color palette, and especially love the card made with leftover pieces. Brilliant idea!
Breathtaking, love the beautiful soft delicate look to this gorgeous layout!!
What a gorgeous layout! Thanks for the chance!
It’s such a clever idea to use your bits of paper.
Happy NSD !
Oooh! So soft and pretty!
Beautiful work!
Wow what a gorgeous layout and beautiful card!
Beautiful layouts. Great background suggestions
Love the softness this approach gives (and what a cute baby photo)
Oh, I would soooo much love to win a SSS goodie bag. Love your wide variety of products and would love to shop everyday…..if I some day win the big lottery ;o)
Great way to use SSS exclusives! Beautiful layouts and card!
Beautiful layout and card. Love the soft feel.
Wow so stunning! You can see so much love and work put into the page layouts!
The All Seasons Tree die is just gorgeous. Beautiful layout!
Beautiful Layout!!
Wow! Gorgeous projects! Thanks for sharing your techniques :)
Such a beautiful Artist!!
Really beautiful projects. Her style is so soft and different!
sweet layout and love the card with stitching. :)
Very nice!
You are blessed with a beautiful family.
Sweet family memories! I love the colors and textures.
Fantastic layouts and I love the card made of the leftovers!
Beautiful, and what lovely photographs :)
Beautiful, I especially love the card.
Great layouts and a fantastic card from the leftovers, but you would never know they were leftovers! :) Tons of inspiration, today….thank you!
Such a beautiful layout! I want to try this.
Oh my goodness,how sweet
Beautiful layout!
Way to use every scrap and create 3 beautiful projects!
Very pretty projects with this informal look.
These projects are fabulous!
Wow! Beautiful!!! Thank you for inspiring me Ashli! Can’t wait to be creative this weekend :) Happy National Scrapbook Day!!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
What a cute baby layout!